Projections Reality As Colbrunn Surges

MARLINS NOTEBOOK

It's time for Marlins manager Rene Lachemann to find some new expectations for Greg Colbrunn.

Heading into the season, Lachemann thought 15-20 home runs, 70-90 RBI and a .270-.290 batting average might be nice, round numbers for his oft-injured first baseman.

Yet after Colbrunn almost single-handedly handled the Cubs in a 4-1 victory Wednesday night at Joe Robbie Stadium, those numbers have become a springboard into the final month of the season.

Colbrunn drove home two runs with a single past the outstretched glove of Shawon Dunston in the third inning and then ripped a 382-foot solo home run over the clock atop the left-field wall in the sixth inning to account for the Marlins' final three runs.

The home run was his 20th of the season, the RBI lifted his total to 75 and his average moved to .281.

"He's got the home runs and RBI with a month to go," Lachemann said in reference to those early expectations.

Unlike Lachemann, Colbrunn, who has battled injuries since he missed the 1991 Triple-A season after elbow surgery, didn't set many statistical goals this season.

"My expectations were I was just trying to stay healthy the full course of the season and be ready to play every day," he said.

Following the elbow surgery in 1991, Colbrunn returned with a solid season in Triple-A before he was recalled by the Expos midway through the 1992 season. More elbow trouble hampered him in 1993 and that fall he was claimed off waivers by the Marlins after the Expos left him exposed assuming the injury would scare off other teams.

"We just felt it was worth the risk," said Frank Wren, the Marlins assistant general manager who previously worked in Montreal. "We knew what kind of bat potential he had."

But Colbrunn's problem was never the bat. It was the arm, then a knee last season.

In parts of the three previous seasons, Colbrunn was limited to 169 games because of various injuries. This season, he has played in a team-high 111 of a possible 114 games.

"It's nice to be able to go into September healthy," he said.

Marlins ready for Shef

Just one more day until Gary Sheffield returns. And in his mind, any remaining questions about his readiness were answered Wednesday during batting practice.

"I was hitting balls out of right field," Sheffield said of three shots he cranked over the opposite-field fence, in addition to four he hit over in left. "When I do that, I know I have my strength back. I'm not 100 percent; I'm still a little weak in some on my joints. But I think I can get by."

Sheffield returns to the lineup Friday for the first time since tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb June 10, an injury that was originally diagnosed as season-ending.

Manager Rene Lachemann plans to play Sheffield all nine innings in Friday's series opener against Houston in the Astrodome. If he feels good Saturday, Sheffield will play again. His return comes at an opportune time, with Andre Dawson's knees aching before another series on artificial turf. Lachemann said he would like to rest Dawson, perhaps playing him only Sunday.

... and CJ, too Catcher Charles Johnson is also scheduled to rejoin the Marlins Friday in Houston. He's been out since Aug. 9 with a hairline fracture in his right hand.... Rosters can be expanded to 40 Friday, and a handful of Marlins are expected to be activated from the DL. Reliever Terry Mathews (hamstring) pitched two innings for Charlotte Tuesday and felt fine; outfielder Tommy Gregg (knee) went 2 for 4 at Charlotte; and reliever Jeremy Hernandez (neck) reported no soreness after a simulated game at JRS.

Braves talks continue

Negotiations continued between the Marlins and Atlanta Braves, who want to get relief pitcher Alejandro Pena for their playoff run. The Marlins will not accept anything less than a high-quality prospect for Pena.